PEOPLE in the Taunton and Wellington area can have their say on how homes are provided in the district in the future.

Around 8,000 survey forms are being sent out to help build a picture of housing needs that will feed in to a wider Housing Market Assessment covering most of Somerset.

Four district councils - Taunton Deane, Sedgemoor, West Somerset and South Somerset - are working jointly on the assessment that will be key in future planning policies for affordable and open market housing.

The information provided will pinpoint areas of housing need, what is in demand, what is being supplied and create an up-to-date profile of the housing situation.

Cllr Hazel Prior-Sankey, Taunton Deane Council Executive Member for Housing Services, said: "It is really important that this survey is carried out in collaboration with other housing authorities to ensure we plan appropriately for the future."

People who return the forms in pre-paid envelopes will be entered in a £100 cash prize draw.

Households have been chosen at random and include homeowners, council and private tenants, and those renting from housing associations.

Data, which will be treated in strict confidence, will be collected and analysed by specialist company Fordham Research.

Anyone with queries about the survey can call 0800-136231 free.